Arizona State Transportation Board

BOARD MEMBERS

Board members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Each of Arizona's transportation districts is represented by a board member with staggered service terms. When a member’s term expires, a new member is appointed from the same district, with membership rotated among the counties within the district.

William F. Cuthbertson, Chairman

William Cuthbertson is a third-generation Arizonan. Born in Morenci and a graduate of Duncan High School, he has lived in Greenlee County most of his life. read more

Mr. Cuthbertson earned an Associate of Arts from Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, and a Bachelor of Arts in education and a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Arizona State University. He is registered in Arizona as a professional civil engineer.

He is employed by Freeport McMoRan and has worked at the Morenci copper mine for the past 25 years. His current position is senior resource analyst, where his duties include oversight of the Morenci Land and Water Department. Cuthbertson’s community involvement has included serving on the Morenci Unified School District Governing Board for nine years and as a member of the Greenlee County Planning and Zoning Commission for four years.

He and his wife Suzanne live in his family home in York Valley, near Duncan. They have been married for more than 30 years and have three children.

“I’m pleased to serve on the State Transportation Board. I understand how important transportation is to Arizona’s industries and to Arizona residents who use our state highway system every day for business and recreation,” Mr. Cuthbertson said. “I’m happy to serve on the board for the next six years as we work together to improve transportation for each and every one of us.”

Jack Sellers, Vice Chairman

Maricopa County - District 1Term Expires ~ 2020

Jack Sellers has been active in the community and in the region with a strong interest in economic development and transportation issues. read more

He served as a member and chair of the Chandler Transportation Commission and chaired the Chandler Transportation Bond Committee.

Current Chandler City Councilmember Sellers has lived in Chandler since 1994. He began his tenure on the City Council in January 2009.

He is the former facilities manager for the General Motors Desert Proving Ground in Mesa. He also served on the Airport Noise Compatibility Study Advisory Committee, represents Chandler on the Maricopa Association of Governments Economic Development Committee and is vice chair of the MAG Transportation Policy Committee.

He has also been active with the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, serving on the International Leadership Committee and as a board member and executive committee member. With the East Valley Partnership, he is a member of the board, serves on the Economic Development and Government Relations committees, and chairs the Transportation Committee. Jack is a member of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce and participates on the Public Policy Committee. He also served as a board member and chair of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. He was named Business Leader of the Year in 2004.

Mr. Sellers is a member of Arizona Town Hall and has served as a board member and participated in four Town Halls, twice as a Delegate and twice as a Panel Leader. He is also a member of the Arizona Mexico Commission where he serves on the Transportation Committee. He has been High School Booster Club president, Elementary School PTO president, Little League coach, Homeowners Association president and a member of the Maricopa Community College Commission on Excellence in Education.

He has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from New Mexico State University. Jack has three grown children and eight grandchildren.

SAM ELTERS, Member

Maricopa County - District 1Term Expires ~ 2024

Sam Elters was appointed to the State Transportation Board to represent Maricopa County in January 2018. read more

Mr. Elters is a Transportation Engineer with more than 30 years of experience in planning, design, construction, and operations. His experience spans both the public and private sectors, where he has demonstrated strong vision and leadership. He has a
proven track record of good partnering practices and principles while working with communities across Arizona. He is a champion of transportation, and has successfully contributed by serving Arizona in multiple roles, including state engineer for
ADOT from 2005 to 2008.

As state engineer, He:

Worked closely with the Transportation Board to program and deliver the five-year construction program

Interacted with elected officials and technical staff at the state, regional (urban and rural), and local levels

Collaborated with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as well as the consulting and contracting industries to successfully deliver Arizona’s five-year construction program

Established good working relationships with the governor’s executive team and legislative staff

Additionally, Mr. Elters has served as a chief engineer for the Transportation Corridor Agencies (the toll roads) in Orange County, California. He understands the Transportation Planning and Programming process and possesses a strong, balanced knowledge
of transportation funding and financing including the Federal Trust Fund, State Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF), and local funding and financing programs.

Mr. Elters has been in Arizona since 1981 and a resident of Maricopa County since 2005. He is currently an active member of the Engineering Consultant Community, and is a professional Registered Engineer in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Colorado. He
is also a member of the Enforcement Advisory Committee, Arizona State Board of Technical Registration, appointed in December 1996.

Mr. Elters has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Northern Arizona University. He is married and has two grown children.

Jesse Thompson, Member

Apache, Navajo and Coconino Counties - District 5Term Expires ~ 2023

Jesse Thompson was appointed to the State Transportation Board in 2017 by Governor Ducey. read more

Jesse Thompson is a lifelong Arizonan, currently residing in the community of Teesto-Hardrock with his wife Louise. He is a dedicated public servant, father of five and a graduate of Northern Arizona University.

First elected to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors in 1992, Supervisor Thompson has served the residents of his district consistently over the past 25 years. He currently presides over Navajo County District II, covering Winslow, AZ, Navajo communities, and a large portion of the Hopi Tribe.

Supervisor Thompson has previously been a Tribal Operations Specialist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and he remains active in the National Association of Counties (NACo) and NACo Transportation Steering Committee. He currently serves on the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) Economic Development Council’s Executive Committee and the NACOG Transportation Advisory Committee as a Tribal Government Representative. He is also active with the North Region Advisory Committee (NRAC) for Homeland Security.

Supervisor Thompson’s priorities include Reservation school bus route improvements, improvements to road systems throughout the Navajo and Hopi Nations, providing better care to veterans and seniors, and creating educational opportunities for youth across the state.

Supervisor Thompson has been active in the support of the Winslow Levee Rehabilitation Project for flood mitigation, serving as Chairman of the Winslow Levee Advisory Committee, and is the current Chairman to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors.

Gary Knight, Member

Gary Knight was appointed to the State Transportation Board in 2018 by Governor Ducey. read more

Mr. Knight is a Yuma native, graduated from Kofa High School and Arizona Western College with an AA degree in business. He then spent six years in the Navy where he received an education in electronics which included the repair of communications and radar equipment. After being honorably discharged Mr. Knight returned to Yuma and spent thirty-five years in the private sector, owning a boat dealership prior to retiring in 2009.

In 2013 Mr. Knight was elected to his first term on Yuma City Council and was then re-elected in 2017 to a second term and re-appointed Deputy Mayor. As a Councilmember Mr. Knight has been serving on the following boards and committees all of which are directly related to transportation:

YMPO representative to the State Transportation Board for the past 2 years

Greater Yuma Port Authority (GYPA) Board of Directors

Yuma County Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee

Yuma County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee

Mr. Knight and his wife Bonnie have been married for 9 years but have known each other since grade school. He has two grown children and 3 grandchildren.

“I am extremely honored to have been appointed to the Transportation Board. Transportation infrastructure is vital to economic development in the State and is of particular importance in the rural less populated Counties. I look forward to working with ADOT and the rest of the Transportation Board Members to improve transportation infrastructure throughout District 6 and the State.”

MICHAEL S. HAMMOND, Member

Pima County - District 2Term Expires ~ 2021

Michael Hammond was appointed to the State Transportation Board in 2015 by Governor Ducey. read more

Mr. Hammond has lived in Southern Arizona for 39 years and has a keen appreciation for the state's transportation infrastructure and its importance in adding to our quality of life and in driving economic development and job growth. Hammond is expected to attend his first board meeting April 17 in Phoenix.

Mr. Hammond has been in commercial real estate since 1978 and is president, founder and managing shareholder of Cushman & Wakefield|PICOR, an independent commercial real estate brokerage and management firm based in Southern Arizona. In 2002, with his background in industrial real estate and interest in regional economic development, he began focusing on the border region and, more specifically, the state of Sonora, Mexico.

Mr. Hammond received "Tucson Man of the Year" honors from Greater Tucson Leadership in 2013. He is a member of various local, regional and national organizations, including the Arizona District Export Council, the Business Development Finance Corporation, Southern Arizona Leadership Council and Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities. He is a full member of the Urban Land Institute and serves on the Urban Land Institute State of Arizona Steering Committee.

Mr. Hammond is a graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle.

Steve Stratton, Member

Pinal, Gila and Graham Counties - District 4Term Expires ~ 2022

Steve Stratton was appointed to the State Transportation Board in 2015 by Governor Ducey. read more

Stratton has been engaged in transportation issues and with the State Transportation Board through long service in public works and city management. Born and raised in Globe, he served as that city's public works director and city manager. He then was public works director and acting manager for Gila County. Now retired from public service, Stratton works for WestLand Resources, an environmental and engineering company.

"I am extremely appreciative of the appointment," Stratton said. "I am concerned about the transportation needs of the state as a whole and the available funding associated with meeting those needs. I want to make a positive contribution as a new board member."

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